A course in financial planning should be a mandatory class before graduating high school.

Many schools DO try to do a little something (our kids' school did, way back in the 80's), but I couldn't agree more strongly with you!

Seems to me that few kids probably get such information at home (THEIR folks may not know, anyway, sad to say), so schools might do well to include a mandatory segment of some kind on "How To Live", absurd as that may sound. Before they go off into the big world, kids need to know how to balance a check book, how to use credit wisely (!), and a lot of other things -- including the notion, at least, that they need to eventually start saving for the future.

Vermonter >>

I continue to suggest that any such class on how to manage your finances will be captured before long by the business interests that have something to sell you.

An illustration would be the school lunch program. A great many school lunch programs have been captured by business interests and stuff children with junk food of various kinds.

Why would you expect a class in personal finance to be any different? Before long, you would have the GMAC segment on how to qualify for credit to buy that **new car**.

The VISA card segment on how to increase your credit limit, and just sign **here** to apply for that first ncard and get that neat t-shirt.

Even (ahem) your Local State University on How to Finance Your College Education on Student Loans.

The one thing that would NOT be taught (for long) would be the idea of living frugally. You don't teach deviant values in public schools.

Announcements

When Life Gives You Lemons
We all have had hardships and made poor decisions. The important thing is how we respond and grow. Read the story of a Fool who started from nothing, and looks to gain everything.

Work for Fools?
Winner of the Washingtonian great places to work, and Glassdoor #1 Company to Work For 2015! Have access to all of TMF's online and email products for FREE, and be paid for your contributions to TMF! Click the link and start your Fool career.